After appeals from human rights activist Ansar Burney to the Indian government and Bollywood star Salman Khan to step up and help the stranded girl, the Indian High Commissioner also arrived in Karachi on directions of his Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj and met the girl.
Also read: Geeta will fall into depression if she doesn’t meet her family: Bilquis Edhi
Geeta has her own mandir at the shelter she currently resides in Karachi. An activist tweeted that she is also a vegetarian and also fasts in the Muslim holy month of Ramazan.
We are grateful to all individuals and institutions in Pakistan who looked after Geeta.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 4, 2015
This requires some formalities which we will complete. — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 4, 2015
We will bring Geeta back to India.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 4, 2015
Our High Commissioner believes that Geeta is an Indian. — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 4, 2015
Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan Mr Raghavan and Mrs Raghavan met Geeta in Karachi today.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 4, 2015
Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan Dr.TCA Raghavan is reaching Karachi and will meet Geeta today. — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 4, 2015
I have asked Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Dr TCA Raghavan to go to Karachi with Mrs Raghavan and meet this girl. @AnsarBurney
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 3, 2015
Know Geeta better : She’s a vegetarian. Fasts in Ramzan. Has her own mandir. Maintains a diary. Loves to dance. pic.twitter.com/6iHFQVvayd — Yusra Askari (@YusraSAskari) August 4, 2015
“We must not leave any stone unturned to make Geeta realize there are sympathizers’ in India too, who are making efforts to help her reach home.”
Indian High Commissioner says Geeta case to bring both countries closer
The team of Indian High Commission reached Edhi Centre in Karachi to seek details of the girl and meet her. Speaking to media on the occasion, the Indian HC T.C.A. Raghavan thanked Mr. Abdul Sattar Edhi for providing shelter to the Indian work and cooperating in this regard. He informed that they would try to search family of the lost girl. He said it is itself a message of peace that his government sent him to Pakistan. “I am hopeful this process will continue and peace will prevail.” Another member of the visiting Indian team thanked Ms Bilquees Edhi for taking care of the girl and allowing her to exercise religious freedom and providing her with Mandir facility. Mr. Ansar Burney also thanked the Indian envoy for meeting Geeta in Karachi.
Dear Dr TCA Raghavan thanks for coming to Karachi and to meet Geeta alias Guddy @SushmaSwaraj @MEAIndia — Ansar Burney (@AnsarBurney) August 4, 2015
Salman Khan stands up for Geeta
Meanwhile, Bollywood’s heartthrob Salman Khan has responded to our report and asked Bajrangi director to help find Geeta’s family after Ansar Burney’s appeal.
.@BeingSalmanKhan offers to help Geeta find her Bajrangi. Asks director Kabir Khan to find out how he can help Geeta meet her family 10:30 — Rahul Kanwal (@rahulkanwal) August 3, 2015
Geeta is an Indian girl, deaf and mute, who accidentally crossed into Pakistan many years ago as a child. Mr Burney says this happened 15 years ago and since she cannot speak or talk, Rangers handed her over to a local shelter home in Lahore. She was then transferred to the Edhi Home in Karachi where she is currently living. Geeta was also invited today at the ARY’s morning show hosted by Sanam Baloch
Mr Burney also had also traveled to India in October 2012 with photographs and pictures of the girl three years ago. Bilquis Edhi has suggested Geeta to begin a new life here and get marreid to a Hindu boy. Geeta, through her gestures, refused and said she would get marry only after she returns home. Ms Edhi also named the girl who accidentally strayed across the border into Pakistan ‘Geeta’.
Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan Dr.TCA Raghavan is reaching Karachi and will meet Geeta today. — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 4, 2015
In a video message, Burney refers to the Bollywood star, saying “Salman khan sahib, you’ve translated real life story to a film, earned billions and didn’t credit Pakistan or us. But let’s forget. We don’t want promotion or publicity as it’s not our ambition. Now you should put up your hand and announce assistance to this girl and Ansar Burney Trust. ” He detailed that the girl was found in Pakistan around 15 years ago, when she was six and identified herself as ‘Guddi’ – a same character played by pretty Harshali Malhotra in Bajrangi Bhaijan . “Ansar Burney Trust is endeavouring to find her family for last three years.”
Ansar Burney Trust is coming closer to find out family of Geeta as number 193 with places Jharkhand and Telangana in India — Ansar Burney (@AnsarBurney) August 2, 2015
Efforts of the Ansar Burney Trust is coming closer to find out family of Geeta as number 193 with places Jharkhand & Telangana in India — Ansar Burney (@AnsarBurney) August 2, 2015
Geeta alias Guddy may be from Jharkhand or Telangana in India. Geeta remember no 193 and says she has seven brothers & four sisters. — Ansar Burney (@AnsarBurney) August 2, 2015
Indian Foreign Minister @SushmaSwaraj in search of missing Indian girl Geeta alias Guddy’s family in India: #Thanks https://t.co/24vsBLhex1 — Ansar Burney (@AnsarBurney) August 3, 2015
Mr. Burney said the entire story revolves around Pakistan, Ansar Burney and a Paksitani journalist Chand Nawab. “We can move to Indian Supreme Court for compensation, but we won’t resort to that move.” I am heading to India on September 2, he said, to meet H.H. Dalailama and I would visit areas to find family of Geeta. The director of Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Kabir Khan, after reports in the media, has sent an email to Mr. Burney assuring him support in the mission. Here’s the screenshot of the email received to the human rights activist. “I hope you (Salman) to carry along us in this mission during India visit. “Alike Geeta, there is a child named Salman, who was one-and-a-half year old when his parents were sent back to Pakistan. ”
I have asked Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Dr TCA Raghavan to go to Karachi with Mrs Raghavan and meet this girl. @AnsarBurney — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 3, 2015
Gita Praying to go to her home (video credit… by arynews
Geeta playing with kids in Edhi Center – Video… by arynews
The efforts of Ansar Burney Trust seem to have yielding positive results after three years as Minister of External Affairs of India Sushma Swaraj tweeted to Burney that she had directed Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, to head to Karachi and meet with Geeta.